AFP, PNP to be tapped for DPWH project inspections

MANILA, Philippines — With their limited manpower, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vivencio Dizon is eyeing police and military assistance in inspecting anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Dizon said they have so far received over 100 reports from the public about substandard and ghost projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), a figure which is expected to rise with President Marcos’ sumbongsapangulo.ph website.

A team of outsiders started inspecting other DPWH projects but Dizon said it is difficult to cover the entire country with just a few personnel.

“We will seek the help of the Philippine National Police and our Armed Forces to assist us in roving and inspecting reported anomalous projects,” he told GMA News Friday.

Apart from the police and military, Dizon also urged the public to take part in the crackdown by taking photographs and videos of questionable DPWH projects.

Dizon is set to visit Oriental Mindoro within the week and inspect substandard flood control projects reported by Gov. Humerlito Dolor.

He also has official engagements in La Union and will meet with anti-corruption crusader and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The department chief also received reports of anomalous DPWH infrastructures in Nueva Vizcaya and Eastern Visayas provinces.

Dizon has so far dismissed from service three officials accused of corruption: former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara and assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.

Dizon believes there are other corrupt DPWH officials who have stashed away ill-gotten wealth from substandard and ghost projects in other parts of the country.

“From top to bottom in the DPWH, if the evidence points to them, that’s where we will be, and they have to be accountable for their crimes,” Dizon said.

Justice before Christmas?

Before Congress concludes deliberations on the 2026 national budget in December, lawmakers and government officials proven implicated in flood control anomalies could be facing charges and even jail time, Senate Preisdent Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

Rejecting claims that public attention would shift away from the flood control controversy once new issues arise, Sotto said colleagues in the chamber have a shared commitment to make erring lawmakers and government officials pay.

“Others’ claims that these flood control anomalies will be forgotten once new issues arise are all wrong. That will never happen. Why? We still have budget deliberations. We will discuss the budget until December. By that time, several people would have already been slapped with cases. Some of them will already be in jail,” Sotto said over radio dwIZ, saying these officials could be facing non-bailable charges of plunder.

Blue Ribbon hearings

Even if Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva have been accused of being deeply-entrenched in flood control corruption by several public works officials, they may still participate in the Blue Ribbon hearings.

“Yes of course. We will leave it up to them if they want to participate or not. It’s up to them. They are part of the Senate,” Sotto said.

Gatchalian, however, said inhibiting from the probe would be a matter of the pair’s personal judgment.

“They are sitting senators and it’s their right to sit in the hearings. However, it’s up to them if they think they will compromise the investigation,” he said.

Sacked DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez accused Estrada and Villanueva of having a 30 percent cut or “commitment” from the alleged budget insertions made to the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sotto said senators could summon then-finance committee chair Grace Poe to clarify who authorized a P355-million insertion in Bulacan that could not be linked to Senator Jinggoy Estrada. — Neil Jayson Servallos, EJ Macababbad